New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-04-03
The MURDER AT RAHWAY.
IS THE MURDERED WOMAN MRS. C. L. WAT
SON?

THE PEOPLE OF STERLING, ILL, PREPARING TO
GIVE HER HUSBAND A WARM RECEPTION-AN
INTERVIEW WITH HIM AT CHICAGO.
CHICAGO April &C L. Watson, whom dispatches
from Ncw-York mention in connection with the Rah-
way murder mystery arrived in Chicago last evening
and this morning reporter found him at the CONNER
cal Hotel. He is little man. with brown beard,
English accent and a nervous. excitabe manner.
He said hs had come out here to find his wife, and
denied that he had anything to do with the bloody
mystery at Railway. Said he:
| can prove that l. il Baltimore when this
murder is supposed to have been committed. l never
refused say whether had been to the town. was
there | went out to see tho body when began to
worry about my wife but found that. although the
murdered woman did not look unlike Mrs. atson, 1t
not she. didn't act suspciousy at all. Every
thing | nave done has been omen and above board.
OF course wore diamonds. have number OF fine
gems that picked up in South Africa. also have
my viics watch She gave it to me to wear while
my own 1T the jewelers. being repaired. But.
great God, knew nothing about this Railway case.
/ never knew was suspected till you told me.
The only thing that might lead any to think that
was connected with the murder was the fact that II
my wife did leave Chicago Oh March 9th. she would
have been at Railway just about the time this woman
was killed
only knew my wife couple of months before
married her. Her name was Lillian Snavey ana her
folks live at Sterling. ILL., met her III Chicago She
was akin% painting lessons with Professor Baumgras,
in the Lake Side Building and boarding with MISS Ida
Duuoan also artist at 233 West Van Buren-st.
count tor anything with me- Her mother was bit
tcrly opposed to the marriage, because l was com
paratyels poor and because she held mortgage on
the homestead at Sterling. | went down there win
Lillian and left her at her mothers house. The old
lady refused TO let her 60 out with ne, but she made
a prctcncc OF visiting relative, ana we slipped OUT
got married and came up to Chicago 10 live. his
March 10. II our intention to 20 to
Kansas. here have relatives, and was to engage
the cattle business there small scale. have
relatives also In Baltimore and New-York and III
tended to 90 East settle mp my affairs and BID good
by my people before starting tor the West. lett
here on March - first went to Baltimore. My
wife wrote me a letter that night and two the next
day and il you could gee them. YOU would know that
che has hot left OF her own accord. stayed III
Baltimore ill week and then went TO New-iors,
arriving there Sunday morning. My wife had been
corresponding with all this time. Then her letters
sunlcnly ceased. l. sent a lot of teegIams, but no
answers came. | wired Mr. Rcan, OF No 3ol HUI
sonave.. and he sent back this Lizzie lett March
- to meet you mt Pittsburg.' What had become OF
hcrl What induced her To 90 to Pittsburg ] had
made arrangements to meet there. and there was
no reason under Heaven why she SHOULD visit the
town tcegraphed the Cbiei of Police aud the hotel
where usually stopped when in Ptrsburg, and by
both was told that my wife had not been III Pitts.
burg. TLcn remembered that while at Baltimore
had heard that there had been railroad accident at
Lcetona. Ohio on = road that my wife might have
taken to 90 to Pittsburg. The marshal wired back
that "A woman answering the description of my wife
had been injured in the wreck. | told him To WORK
the mittcr up aud telegraph all Developments Alter
satisfying my mind that the Railway victim was not
my wiic-she had blue eyes and my witcs were black
/ came to chicago.
Another reason Tor coming out here was telegram
from Miss Duncan stating that my wife was all right
and bad gone out To Kansas NJ own idea Is that
her mother has her locRcd up at Sterling.
dispatch from Ste ling says that Lillian Snavely-
Watson has been in Sterling since her dlsap-
pearance and the town in fever OF excitement
over the case. Everybody knew Lillian, or Lizzie, al
she generally called and as she was great
fayor e. tnrc,s against Watson are freely lnade. 1t
he put toot within the town, 1t Is not
nmlikcl, that he would receive warm reception.
I.zzies widowed mother, VINO lives on a we'll
equipped farm three miles south OF Sterling is nearly
Wild with gret and could give coherent story OF the
sircumstances surrounding the sensational affair IL
learned that the missing girls wardrobe contained
4 dark green cashmere dress aud black silk sacque
with fur collar. such worn by the murdered
girl whose body found at Railway. picture OF
the victim received in town today is almost an
exact fac-simile OF taken OF Lillian iew months
ago. Lillian had S2.Oi6 in the bank. but she drew
II all ont after she became acquainted with Watson
the last check being drawn through Iriyfte bank IN
Chicago for $500. Ii was soOd after this that she
let, town. The icwelry conspIcuously worn by
Watson IiIlian's property and those who know
Watson'- record here OF the opinion that he only
married Lillian tor her money.